Medications

by Lauren | Celiac Teen on June 12, 2009

They aren’t fun. That much is obvious. For probably 2 years now, I’ve been on thyroid medication. That is no big deal. I take one pill once a day, so simple. Sure, my levels go up and down but basically it worked. Now, I have so so much more. I haven’t told you yet but I have gall stones. They don’t hurt me yet, because they are very very small, but my doctor wants to get rid of them. And luckily, because of the type of stone they are, I can try this new medication to attempt to get rid of them. So thats my first new medication. It’s kid of huge, but all in all, it’s not that bad.

The really bad one that drives me crazy are the salt pills. Yes, salt pills. They are a semi-ancient form of medicine, but my doctor decided to put me on it. They are driving me insane. First, I have to take them at every meal. Second, they hurt. I got aches throughout my abdomen that move around, during the first few days. Third, it makes gas, at least it did in the beginning. Every so often, I got little tiny, quiet burps in groups of 10 or so, which aren’t fun. They are sort of like hiccups but not. Fourth, which is super weird, but they made my saliva taste like salt. It tasted horrible, and is one of the things that causes the fifth issue. Fifth, I have to drink a ton of water. Not just because I have to, but because I want to. It helps to a point, unless I drink too much, then I feel like I drank too much water, which is a pretty impossible to explain feeling. In the past few days, at school alone, I have been drinking at least 2 1/2 litres of water. At home, I have many more glasses just to quench my thirst. Probably between 5 and 10. Considering I used to drink maybe 2 litres total throughout my day, I find it to be a lot of water. I even have two water bottles, which I usually refill and finish by the end of the school day. It’s kind of crazy.

On the flip side, the salt pills have helped. They’ve decreased my dizzyness episodes and allowed my body to make more blood. I can sometimes actually feel the larger quantity of blood in my body, which is an odd sensation.

What really bugged me was that I went from on pill a day to 6. And, even moreso, that I have to take medication at school. However, regular school is finished! so that won’t be an issue again until fall.

So what about you? Are you on medication, been on it in the past, or even a lucky person without a single pill to take?

I know that I’m on it for the rest of my life. Maybe not the new ones, but my thyroid medication is always going to be part of my day, and I’m okay with that, because I always feel better on it, and it’s a tiny little pill that doesn’t need any special treatment.

I know what you mean about medication, I am finally down to two. One being my thyroid medication. I used to take two thyroid pills, but am down to one and it will be with me forever, as I no longer have a functioning thyroid (due to Radioactive Iodine Ablation for Graves’ Disease). It doesn’t bother me in an annoyance fashion, because it is a small pill. It does sometimes get the best of me emotionally though, because it is a daily reminder of all the years I went undiagnosed/untreated for gluten sensitivity (DH and celiac).

I hope your gall stones are gone by now. Are you still on the salt pills?

I am also on thyroid medication. Of another (which isn’t really a med, but is in pill form) I take 15 a day, and I also take 3 alfalfa pills a day. Oh, a I also take vit. D drops. I also have more pills coming for my acid reflux Oh to take only 6 a day!

Heidi, I’m still on salt pills, and the gall stones aren’t quite gone yet (as far as I know!). It’s a slow process, but completely worth it =).

KatherineBee, Not that I know of. I think that we ruled that one out, but I do take the salt pills to maintain my blood pressure and blood volume =). They do get much better, at least in my experience.

Susannah, I guess it all about perspective! 6 is better than that many, and 1 is better than 6.

Welcome!

Hello there! My name is Lauren, and I am a 20 year old university student who has celiac disease and a handful of other health issues. I love to create delicious, gluten-free food. I hope you enjoy looking around!